Live Well Be Well

You're in your mid-30s, gaining weight, losing sleep, and foggy in a way no amount of coffee fixes — and your doctor handed you an antidepressant. What if it wasn't stress, anxiety, or lack of discipline? What if it was perimenopause, starting years earlier than anyone told you? This clip breaks down the real biology behind "tired but wired," gut microbiome changes, and why brain fog in women is often a hormonal signal the medical system keeps missing — and keeps misdiagnosing.Dr. Stacy SimsListen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.comMojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***Let's be friends!

Do you speak to yourself as kindly as you would to a friend? We examine how harsh inner voices are often carried from childhood and how a kinder stance can help when you mess up. This clip explores naming and dismissing that internal critic, the role of the ‘super ego', the limits of relying on a motivational whip, the creative costs of self-censorship, and why our biology makes criticism stick, even online. Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Do you want to understand why the clitoris is often central to orgasm? Because the clitoris is the anatomical counterpart to the penis, with a highly sensitive external tip and a much larger internal structure made of erectile tissue. This clip explores how the clitoris develops, how the inner labia and clitoral hood relate to penile anatomy, and why the glans can be too sensitive for direct touch for many people due to its concentration of nerve endings.This segment examines what arousal looks like physically, including how the clitoris enlarges during arousal as blood flows into erectile tissue and is released through rhythmic pelvic floor contractions. We also talk about why penetration alone often is not enough for orgasm, including the difference between touch-sensitive and pressure-sensitive nerve endings in the vagina, and why some orgasms during intercourse may still be driven by clitoral stimulation, including internal clitoral structures that surround the vagina.Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

How can couples talk about hard feelings without hurting each other? This clip explores building a therapeutic atmosphere where jealousy, mixed feelings, and the need for space can be shared gently. Here, I'm discussing why self-understanding must come before communication, how “I feel” language respects two realities, and what an examined relationship means beyond formal therapy. We also consider going to bed on an argument, avoiding freeze-outs by returning to the table quickly, and setting WhatsApp rules to avoid aggravating anxious or avoidant attachment. Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareThis week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by the extraordinary Dr. Nighat Arif, NHS GP, women's health advocate, author of The Knowledge and the brand new The Family Health Bible, and one of the most courageous voices in medicine today. Dr. Nighat has spent nearly two decades in the NHS holding space for the women the system has failed and she's built an online community of millions by doing exactly what she does in her surgery: speaking honestly, clearly, and without shame about the things nobody else will say.Here's What We Dive Into:- How a dare from Dr. Nighat's sister during lockdown sparked a global conversation about vaginal dryness and why she chose to begin it in Punjabi.- Why perimenopause can begin as early as 38 to 40, and what the research says about Black and Asian women going through this transition two to five years earlier than average.- How medical gaslighting and medical misogyny show up in real consultations including Dr. Nighat's own experiences of being dismissed as a patient, both for PCOS and for lichen sclerosis.- Why Dr. Nighat now recommends that women start moisturising their vulva and vagina from the age of 20, and which ingredients to avoid.- How the vaginal ring works, why it's barely spoken about, and why the seven-day pill break has more to do with the Pope than with medicine.- Why Trump's defunding of women's health research and the framing of female bodies as a "business opportunity" is one of the most urgent issues facing medicine right now.Love,Sarah Ann

Can your cycle and contraception influence who you find attractive? This clip explores how rising estrogen near ovulation aligns with stronger preferences for facial, vocal, and behavioral masculinity, why testosterone can signal immune robustness, and what happens when ovulation is suppressed by the pill. It also examines data on changes in attraction after stopping hormonal birth control, including the 25 percent less, 25 percent more, 50 percent no change pattern, and reported differences in sexual frequency among women depending on when they chose their partner. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdASarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Want a simple way to reset your health in the new year? Start with your beverages: water, tea and coffee can support hydration, polyphenols and healthy aging. This clip explores filtered water to limit microplastics and metals, avoiding plastic bottles, loose leaf tea and an easy steeping tip, medium roast and organic coffee for more polyphenols, what changes with decaf, skipping dairy milk and added sugar, and why to avoid artificial sweeteners. We also cover thirst vs hunger, keeping water in sight, water before meals for fullness, and how cold water can activate brown fat. Watch the FULL podcast hereWatch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_MWilliam Li in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Are your habits helping or hijacking your brain? This clip explores how learned routines like toothbrushing, with oral health linked to heart disease and dementia, contrast with habits we never learned for our minds.This segment examines why calorie-rich foods and constant phone access exploit evolved instincts, why Christmas grazing happens, and how removing cues helps. Practical ideas include keeping junk food and phones out of reach, placing your phone in another room for meetings or class, and exercising daily despite excuses unless you're genuinely ill. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HHvG8HEYdjAAnders Hansen in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Do anxious and avoidant partners keep finding each other? Often, we're drawn to familiar dynamics and hope to solve old problems as adults. This clip explores the anxious-avoidant pattern, repetition compulsion, and why styles rarely change but can be managed. We discuss dialing conflicts down, naming your pattern early, and setting firm boundaries such as asking for regular check-ins. It also considers choosing calmer relationships over intense fireworks to support your nervous system. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/eTbA81qNYt4Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Struggling to focus in a tech-filled world? Here, I'm discussing why our brains evolved to be easily distracted and how simple habits can protect attention. This clip explores exercise-driven brain benefits: about 20% higher blood flow, sharper focus and creativity for roughly an hour after, and better memory for study. We also cover the long-term mental health gains from three pulse-raising sessions a week of around 45 minutes, why daily movement still matters, and practical tips like keeping your phone out of the room and building movement into your day with walking, cycling, or stairs. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Do you ever find yourself standing in front of the fridge at 6 PM just staring into the light? It is that heavy feeling of being completely "done" for the day. It is not just physical fatigue. It is your brain telling you it has nothing left to give. I have been there so many times and I want you to know that it is not a failure of willpower. This week is a little different because it is just you and me. I wanted to sit down and have a real heart to heart about why staying healthy feels so incredibly hard right now. We are living in such a loud and polarizing world when it comes to nutrition and honestly it is exhausting. I am sharing the concept of the Brain Bank Account which has been a total game changer for how I manage my own energy. We are moving away from the "shoulds" and looking at how to build gentle systems that actually hold you up when life gets messy.Here's what we dive into:- Why the world of nutrition feels so loud and confusing and how to find your own quiet center again.- How to use the Brain Bank Account method to stop overdrawing your internal energy.- What happens to our brains when we hit that 3 PM slump and how to nourish our way through it.- Why making decisions about food is actually one of the most taxing things we do every day.- How to align your natural biological rhythms with your busy social life without the stress.- What the Great British Veg Out is all about and why adding more is always better than taking away.- Why your health is individual and how to stop comparing your "off days" to someone else's highlight reel.Love, Sarah Ann

How long does heartbreak really last and what actually helps you heal? This clip explores heartbreak as a trauma that can take years, the call for real closure, and how unexplained breakups shatter trust and sense of self. I'm exploring with my guest the quieter, tragic view that not all pain becomes growth, even while we may learn boundaries and ask sharper questions. Here, I'm discussing the slow turn toward self-compassion, moving from siding with the rejector to being on your own side, and what recovery realistically looks like. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/eTbA81qNYt4***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdADo you feel like two different people across your cycle? Understanding the brain effects of estrogen and progesterone can help you trust both advisors within you. This clip explores the often overlooked luteal phase, why progesterone matters for mood, sleep, and decision making, and how it's used after concussion to protect the brain. We also touch on perimenopause care and why progesterone isn't just for the uterus, plus emerging questions about neuroprotection and Alzheimer's. Watch the ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Why is it that we often feel like we need to solve the mystery of our own bodies in total silence? For so many of us, the path to pleasure has been paved with confusion or even shame, leaving us feeling like there is something broken within us when there truly isn't.This week on Live Well Be Well, I am sitting down with the pioneering Dr. Laurie Mintz. Laurie is a psychologist and author who is on a mission to close the orgasm gap and help us reclaim our right to feel alive and connected in our most intimate moments.In this conversation, we dismantle the cultural lies that have taught us to prioritize everyone's pleasure except our own. Here's what we explore together:- What the clitoris actually is and why it has been linguistically and scientifically erased for centuries.- How the myth of the penetrative orgasm is keeping women from experiencing true fulfillment.- Why your brain is your most powerful sexual organ and how to stop overthinking in the bedroom.- How to bridge the orgasm gap by moving away from patriarchal scripts and toward pleasure equality.- Why masturbation is a vital first step in understanding your own unique biological language.- What it means to be truly in your body and how play can transform your adult health.- How to navigate the honest and awkward conversations that lead to the most meaningful connections of your life.- Why information is the ultimate power in reclaiming your body and your joy.Love, Sarah Ann

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyECan you do everything right and still face Alzheimer's risk? It can happen, and we discuss how environmental toxins, metabolic health, and shifting hormones may play a role. This clip explores two grandmothers with opposite lifestyles, highlighting possible factors like hemoglobin A1c, menopause-related drops in estrogen, and other hormones including IGF-1 and thyroid. We also consider genetic resilience and detox capacity, and why relying on luck isn't wise. Women are addressed directly, with advice to see a good hormone doctor during perimenopause and menopause. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_MCurious what Akkermansia actually does for your health? It's discussed here as a keystone gut microbe linked to improved insulin sensitivity, lower A1C in clinical studies, GLP-1 release and healthier blood vessels, with associations to cancer immunotherapy response. This clip explores the gut brain circulation connection, how metabolism and energy relate to this microbe, and why people considering immunotherapy might also focus on gut health. We also touch on the importance of discussing immunotherapy with an oncologist and staying within medical advice boundaries. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

We spend so much of our lives trying to be impressive. We polish our edges and hide our cracks because we're terrified that being "real" means being weak. But what if the very things we are hiding are actually the only bridges to real connection? It is a scary thought, but one that completely changes how we show up in the world.Here's what we explore together:- Why being "invulnerable" is sometimes just as important as being open and how to know the difference.- How accepting your own foolishness can actually make you invincible to humiliation.- Why we feel "boring" with some people and alive with others and why it is not your fault.- How to use curiosity to metabolize pain and crisis into understanding.- Why following your "gut" in love can sometimes lead you straight into disaster.- Why the truth sometimes needs to be delivered in "small pieces" to be heard.- Why a functioning relationship is the most difficult achievement of a human life.- How to find a path that fits your unique nature in a world that wants you to conform.Love, Sarah Ann

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HHvG8HEYdjAAre we built to manage only about 150 meaningful relationships, and what does that mean for our health? It matters because small, real-world connections help lower loneliness-driven stress that can worsen heart disease prognosis and raise some cancer risk. This clip explores the 150-person social limit, why in-person cues beat screens, a call-based study that eased loneliness, concerns about AI companions and hyper-independence, and lessons from hunter-gatherers on movement, sleep, and mood. Together we consider balancing fast tech with our unchanged human needs. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Can specific gut and mouth bacteria influence brain health and conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's? We look at early clinical work on Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 and its potential to slow Parkinson's progression, links between gum disease and dementia, and how Lactobacillus reuteri may stimulate oxytocin. This clip explores the gut-brain and oral-brain connections, the idea of a brain microbiome, and emerging views on brain regeneration and healthy aging. ***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Ever feel like you're waking up as two different people depending on the week of the month? One week you're taking on the world with total confidence, and the next, you're second-guessing every decision you've ever made. It turns out, that isn't just "you being emotional", it's actually a sign of your brain responding to a very specific biological rhythm.This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Sarah Hill. She's an evolutionary psychologist and the author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain. Sarah has this incredible way of explaining how our hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, aren't just about reproduction; they are actually "wise advisors" that shape how we think, who we're attracted to, and how we show up in our work and relationships.Here's what we explore together:- Your Hormones as Information: How these biological signals act as internal guides for your behavior and motivation.- The "Two Advisors" Theory: Why feeling different across your cycle actually makes you a better, more well-rounded decision-maker.- The Power of Progesterone: Why this often-ignored hormone is actually a neuroprotective "superpower" that helps your brain slow down and recover.- Cycle Variability: Why your "symptoms" can change every month based on everything from sleep to stress.- The Male Perspective: A fascinating look at how men's testosterone is actually more reactive to the environment (like sports or competition) compared to the predictable cycles of women.- Bridging the Cultural Gap: How to stop overriding your body's natural cues in a world that expects you to be the same person every single day.Love, Sarah Ann

Can boredom and daydreaming actually boost creativity and calm? Here, I'm discussing how a solo writing sprint in nature left my HRV higher and my mind clearer, then we examine the default mode and executive networks, task switching, and screen-free habits. This clip explores the Meals, Bedroom, Bathroom rule for no phones, the value of nature time, and reframing boredom as daydreaming to restore the brain. We talk practical steps for dopamine-heavy habits, why reflection improves decisions, and how daydreaming can spark ideas and support mental health. Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZoyEJ0WD99g***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyEWorried about Alzheimer's and what you can do now? You'll hear practical, testable steps to lower risk by targeting metabolism, inflammation and toxins, plus daily habits for brain rest and sleep. This clip explores the idea that Alzheimer's can have different drivers, the importance of early testing (continuous glucose monitors, hs-CRP, urine toxin tests), and simple changes like meditation, less phone time, better sleep, air purifiers, filtered water, non-toxic skin products, and eating organic while avoiding ultra-processed foods.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by Dr Anders Hansen, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and bestselling author of The Real Happy Pill and Brain Blues, to explore how modern life is reshaping our mental health, focus, and emotional resilience.In this conversation, Anders explains why anxiety, low mood, and restlessness are not failures of the mind, but evolutionary responses that no longer fit our current environment. We discuss how movement, boredom, attention, and social connection shape brain chemistry, and why understanding our evolutionary wiring can help us respond to stress with more compassion and clarity.Here's What We Dive Into:- Why the human brain evolved for survival, not constant happiness or comfort.- How modern environments amplify anxiety, low mood, and attention problems.- Why physical movement is one of the most effective interventions for mental health.- How boredom and mental rest support creativity, emotional regulation, and focus.- What social connection does to the brain, and why isolation increases psychological distress.- How dopamine, serotonin, and stress hormones respond to modern stimulation.- Why chasing happiness can backfire, and what a healthier goal looks like.- How understanding evolution helps reduce shame around mental health struggles.Love, Sarah Ann

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquUAre women at higher risk of Alzheimer's, and can life roles influence dementia risk? This clip explores why two-thirds of Alzheimer's cases are in women, how vascular dementia differs, and how age-specific dementia risk has fallen over recent decades. We discuss factors like improved nutrition, better heart health care, and environmental complexity, jobs, education, and social engagement, linked to maintaining cognition into our 80s. A long-running study found lower environmental complexity, common among midcentury housewives, tracked with greater decline. We also touch on the importance of keeping the mind stimulated.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_MCould your brain host healthy bacteria? This clip explores how parts once taught as sterile, such as breast milk, the bladder, and the brain, contain beneficial microbes, and what they might be doing. We touch on gut and brain communication through the vagus nerve, the idea of dysbiosis versus infection, and why modern findings ask for humility in medicine. Here, I'm discussing practical takeaways like paying attention to how your body feels and using biohacking to monitor health when tests fall short.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

A quick note before we beginThis year, I'm doing something I've wanted to do for a long time.I want to start this year by sharing something a little different.After four years of Live Well Be Well, I'm introducing regular solo episodes. It's taken me a long time to get here. Not because I didn't have things to say, but because it's taken a lot of belief in myself to sit here and share my own thoughts, reflections, and opinions, alongside the voices of the people I speak to on the show.These episodes aren't about giving answers or telling you what to do. They're about making sense of the patterns that keep showing up — in science, in health, and in ourselves.And I feel incredibly privileged to say that. I speak to some of the most respected, iconic people in this field a few times a week, and over the years, I've accumulated such a breadth of knowledge through those conversations. That breadth really matters when it comes to health, because nothing exists in isolation.These solo episodes are a way for me to distill all of that. To share what's staying with me, what's shaping the way I think, and what's been on my mind each month.I also want this to feel like a conversation. Use the comments. Ask me questions. Tell me what you want to hear more about. These episodes, and this space, are where I want to respond.Love, Sarah Ann

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquUCan nutrition and supplements meaningfully lower dementia risk or mainly boost day-to-day focus? They matter within a broader Three S model that links stimulus, supply, and support for brain adaptation. This clip explores why cognitive challenge is the primary stimulus, how supply depends on blood flow, oxygen, and fuel, and how support includes sleep and less chronic stress. We discuss omega-3s, B vitamins, choline, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, iron, and hydration, the heart-brain connection, and vascular dementia overlap, plus associations showing compounded risk from low D, poor omega-3 and B status, anemia, and homocysteine. ***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs a smart first step for obesity? They're helping many people lose significant weight, yet concerns remain about side effects, muscle loss, cost, and regaining weight after stopping. This clip explores the promise and limits of GLP-1s, the call for long term data, and the need to pair medication with nutrition education, counseling, and strength training. It also considers real world access and whether short term success can translate into lasting health. ***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

In this episode of Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by Dr. William Li, physician scientist, bestselling author, and president of the Angiogenesis Foundation. William is one of the world's leading voices on food as medicine, and together we explore how nutrition, immunity, and brain health are deeply connected, often in ways we underestimate.In this conversation, Dr. William Li shares how the body's defence systems are constantly communicating with the brain, influencing inflammation, cognition, mood, and ageing. Drawing on decades of research, he explains how everyday foods can strengthen immunity, protect blood vessels, and support brain function, not through restriction or perfection, but through consistent, nourishing choices.We discuss why immune health matters far beyond avoiding illness, how inflammation silently impacts mood and cognition, and why nourishing the body is one of the most accessible tools we have for long term resilience. This episode is an invitation to move away from fear based nutrition and toward a calmer, evidence led understanding of how the body heals, adapts, and thrives when supported consistently over time.Here's What We Dive Into:- How the immune system influences brain health, mood, and cognitive ageing.- Why chronic inflammation quietly undermines wellbeing long before symptoms appear.- What angiogenesis is and why healthy blood vessels matter for brain function.- How specific foods support the body's natural defence and repair systems.- Why food as medicine is about consistency, not restriction or perfection.- What the science really says about nutrition and disease prevention.- How everyday dietary choices shape long term resilience and longevity.- Why empowering people with knowledge creates healthier relationships with food.Love, Sarah Ann

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZXLWY5HcPXEIn this conversation, I sit down with Andy Galpin to talk about sleep, and why so many of us are still struggling with it despite doing “all the right things”.We unpack why sleep is getting worse globally, even as awareness and spending on sleep continue to rise. Andy explains why focusing on sleep duration alone misses the bigger picture, and why exhaustion is not the same as being physiologically ready for sleep. We also explore why waking up around 2–3am is so common, and how stress, heart rate, and nervous system regulation before bed play a bigger role than most people realise.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6IoThis clip explores how to identify zone two intensity without relying on a wearable. I discuss the link between breathing rate, conversation ability and the underlying metabolic changes that define this training zone. We take a closer look at why many people unintentionally drift into higher intensities, suppress fat oxidation and struggle to lose weight despite working hard. The conversation also touches on fat max, mitochondrial function and the practical implications for long-term weight management.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/IIenBH9xAEkThis segment explores how stress affects the body and why recovery matters just as much as the stress itself. The discussion makes clear that stress is normal, but what truly impacts health is how quickly we return to homeostasis once the moment has passed.Here, we examine the difference between ongoing strain and healthy regulation, the role of sleep in stress resilience, and why two people with the same workload can experience completely different levels of overwhelm. The conversation also looks at locus of control, daily demands, and why recovery is more about how you respond than what's in your “stress bucket.”***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyEWant to reduce everyday toxins at home without overhauling your life? This conversation shares practical swaps for cleaners, pest control, and plastics that lower exposure while keeping things simple. This clip explores why antibacterial cleaners and strong fragrances aren't necessary, how a single non-toxic concentrate can replace multiple products, and using peppermint to deter bugs. We also touch on microplastics, an 80/20 approach to detoxing your routine, and how your liver eliminates toxins through bile, stool, sweat, and hydration.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZXLWY5HcPXEFinding it hard to stay healthy in your 40s while raising kids? This clip explores choosing one non-negotiable habit to protect your time, the midlife mental load, and why what worked in your 20s may not now. This segment examines childbirth's lasting impacts on sleep, mood, and body composition, plus staged sleep strategies for conception, pregnancy, the third trimester, and the nine months after birth. Here, I'm discussing nutrition too: protein targets, post-pregnancy taste shifts, and taking a flexible, low-stress approach when foods trigger nausea or aversion.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6IoWhy is zone two training so important for mitochondrial health? It's linked with improvements in fat oxidation and lactate clearance, which are used as surrogates of mitochondrial function in sports science.This clip explores how different exercise intensities drive distinct metabolic responses, why athletes are useful models for understanding cellular energy, and how laboratory testing with metabolic carts and lactate measurements led to practical training zones from easy efforts to sprints. I'm exploring with my guest how zone two work consistently improved fat oxidation and lactate clearance in testing, while higher intensities remain essential for performance and VO2, since competitions are decided at the top end. Here, I'm discussing the balance between building a metabolically efficient engine at the mitochondrial level with zone two, and training the “turbo” at zones four and five plus sprint work for race demands, all in clear, everyday language you can apply.As a nutritionist and health communicator, my aim is to translate these lab insights into practical training decisions that respect both mitochondrial function and cardiorespiratory adaptations.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/XXwgXDeOYJIAre seed oils the real issue, or are we missing the bigger picture? We examine the weak evidence for harm, the role of rancidity and context, and why blanket bans miss the mark. This clip explores public health messaging, the push for simple slogans, and claims about beef tallow versus seed oils. We also touch on how activism, diet context, and overconsumption shape risk, and why nuance matters.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6IoAre you getting the balance between Zone 2 and HIIT right? I'm exploring how an 80/20 split by sessions, with most training at lower intensity and select high-intensity work, supports results without burning you out.This clip explores why all-HIIT programs often feel unsustainable and can lead to fatigue or injuries, what 80/20 really means when you count sessions rather than minutes, and why only about 5 to 10 percent of total minutes across a season tend to be truly high intensity in athletic programs. We discuss how Zone 2 should be harder than easy cruising to drive mitochondrial adaptations, practical ways for busy people to blend mostly Zone 2 with a small dose of intensity toward the end of some sessions, and why complete off days can be more restorative than so-called active recovery. I also share my experience of feeling awful doing fasted HIIT, and we touch on how women may find certain efforts tougher due to muscle fibre differences related to ATP production. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I connect the training plan with recovery needs, including the role of rest for immune health.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/IIenBH9xAEkAre wearables helping you understand your health or making you feel more stressed? This clip explores how our relationship with daily health scores can shape how we feel and why long term trends matter more than single-day data.This discussion focuses on the mindset behind using wearables, why subjective sleep quality often predicts wellbeing better than objective scores, and how even small changes in reported data can alter mood. Sarah reflects on her own experience of becoming overly focused on sleep scores and explores how relying too heavily on metrics can distance us from our internal signals.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HQepDqbCIyIHow can changes in fascia and daily movement influence the face and overall wellbeing? This clip explores a four-year journey shown through photos, highlighting shifts in facial alignment, skin tone and emotional expression as he adjusted lifestyle habits. This discussion focuses on reducing everyday chemical exposure, addressing past injuries, and using rotational fascia movements to ease tension and restore flow. He also explains how posture, breathing and restricted fascia can affect the eyes, jaw, and complexion.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6IoThis clip explores why VO2 max, despite being a long-standing marker of fitness, does not capture the full picture of our metabolic and longevity potential. We take a closer look at how oxygen is actually used at the cellular level and why mitochondrial function is emerging as the next frontier in understanding performance and healthy ageing.The discussion moves into how mitochondrial health can be assessed in a practical, non-invasive way, including the use of gas exchange measures and lactate as proxies for cellular efficiency.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah's Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let's be friends!